Perhaps a slight rewording of the OP will make it a little more clear:

Whenever the three days and three nights of Matthew 12:40 is brought up in a “discussion” with 6th day of the week crucifixion proponents, they frequently suggest that it is a common Jewish idiom for counting any part of a day as a whole day. I wonder if anyone has documentation that shows an example from the first century or before regarding a period of time that is said to consist of a specific number of days and/or a specific number of nights where the period of time absolutely couldn't have included at least a part of each one of the specific number of days and at least a part of each one of the specific number of nights?

Perhaps a slight rewording of the OP will make it a little more clear:

Whenever the three days and three nights of Matthew 12:40 is brought up in a “discussion” with 6th day of the week crucifixion proponents, they frequently suggest that it is a common Jewish idiom for counting any part of a day as a whole day. I wonder if anyone has documentation that shows an example from the first century or before regarding a period of time that is said to consist of a specific number of days and/or a specific number of nights where the period of time absolutely couldn't have included at least a part of each one of the specific number of days and at least a part of each one of the specific number of nights?

Since the main objective was for Jesus to rise from the dead, which He did, what is the significance of either argument?

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"So then, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter" (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

Since it's been awhile, perhaps someone new looking in who thinks the crucifixion took place on the 6th day of the week and who gets around Matthew 12:40 by saying that it is using a common Jewish idiom where 3 nights actually means 2 nights will know of some writing.

I'm afraid I don't see where the link shows an example from the first century or before regarding a period of time that is said to consist of a specific number of days and/or a specific number of nights where the period of time absolutely couldn't have included at least a part of each one of the specific number of days and at least a part of each one of the specific number of nights. What do you have in mind?

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Philippian

The church has been split in more ways than there are denominations, as well as the issue of Jesus statement in Mt.12:40, He would be in the earth three days AND three nights. It has seldom been understood there was TWO Sabbaths the week He was crucified until recently brought to the light. The fact of the matter is, it is the reason most theologians have seen Friday, as the "day before the Sabbath," they believed Jesus was crucified and died. Which does not agree with Jesus remarks about Jonah being in the belly of the fish. The Sabbath the Scriptures were referring to, was the Passover on Thursday, the day after Jesus crucifixion and death.

I'm sure you are as interested in wanting to know and understand the Scriptural truths as we all are.

Quasar

« Last Edit: May 02, 2014, 12:07:58 AM by Quasar »

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"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me." Jn.14:6.

After Tuesday sunset in 30 A.D. (when the Biblical day ended) Jesus partook of his last meal with his twelve disciples (Luke 22:14-15, etc.). Jesus’ crucifixion occurs between noon and 3pm Wednesday. He dies at 3pm. According to the Bible work was allowed on the day in order to prepare for the NEXT day, a high Holy sabbath day where no work was permitted called the Feast of Unleavened Bread (the first day of the seven-day period). This Holy day began at Wednesday sunset. Jesus was very quickly taken from the cross after his death as there were only a few short hours before God's annual Feast day (Day of Unleavened Bread) began.

"Now evening was coming, and since it was a preparation (that is, the day before a Sabbath), Joseph of Arimathea, an esteemed member of the council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, came; and he went in to Pilate with boldness and requested the body of Jesus. " (Mark 15:42-43, HBFV)

The SECOND Sabbath after Jesus died

The Bible states that after the annual Sabbath known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread had ended (on sunset Thursday), three women went to buy spices for Jesus' body (Mark 16:1). After buying spices for Jesus' body, the women spent the rest of Friday preparing them. When the Saturday Sabbath started at sunset Friday the women rested (Luke 23:56).

After resting Mary Magdalene and another Mary go to observe Jesus' tomb late on the weekly Sabbath:

"Now late on the Sabbath, as the first day of the weeks was drawing near, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to observe the sepulcher." (Matthew 28:1, HBFV)The resurrection

"When we understand Jesus statements, we find that instead of being contradictory, they reveal the exact time that he was raised from the dead. Jesus made it clear that he would be raised AFTER He had been dead for three days. The other statements, "in three days" and "on the third day," do not include the total time that he was dead but only the time that he was buried in the tomb. The Gospel accounts show that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus closed the tomb just before sunset, three hours after Jesus died on the cross. Although he was in the tomb for EXACTLY three days and three nights (seventy-two hours), He was dead for a longer period than that. Thus He rose from the dead "after three days."

The difference between this statement and the statements "in three days" and "on the third day" is that these two statement refer to His burial "in the heart of the earth 3 days and 3 nights." " (The Day Jesus the Christ Died by F. Coulter, Chapter 6, emphasis added)

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead took place at sunset Saturday, April 8, 30 A.D., which is seventy-two hours after he died and was place in the heart of the earth (i.e. tomb). This fulfilled the sign of Jonah the prophet he gave in Matthew 12:38-40 and PROVED He was the TRUE Messiah to the Jews!

The Bible simply does not teach Jesus was either crucified on a Friday or resurrected on a Sunday morning. Our Savior was dead and buried in the earth a full three days and three nights, proving for all ages that he was and is the Messiah.

Someone new looking in who thinks that the crucifixion took place on the 6th day of the week and who tries to get around Matthew 12:40 by saying that is is using common first century idiomatic language may know of some writing.

JUST A THINK ABOUT IT: Will you embrace the full meaning of Christmas? Jesus didn't die just so you could go to heaven. He came to give you life - His life; an abundant life free from guilt, condemnation, and slavery to both sins and religion. He came to bring a grace revolution to the world and tha